Impacting machine



July 14, 1959- Fiied Dec. 16, 1955 G. H. BROWN IMPACTINQ MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I

GE RALD H. BROWN July 14, 1959 a. H. BROWN 2,894,435

IMPACTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GERALD H. BROWN A Q NEYS July 14, 1959 ca. H. BROWN 'IMPACTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,4- FLN 9 2 INVENTOR. GERALD H4 BROWN jk/ w f AT ORNEYS July 14, 1959 G. H. B'ROWN 2,894,435

IMPACTING MACHINE F iled Dc. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. GERALD H. BROWN BY v United States vPatent IMPACTING'MACHINE Gerald H. Brown, Columbus,fhio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to J. Leukart Machine Co., Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 16, 1955, Serial No. 553,590

2 Claims. (Cl. 94-48) My invention relates to an impacting machine. It had to do, more particularly, with a machine which can be used for impacting or compressing paving material, for tamping or compressing filling material such as dirt, and for many other impacting operations.

Machines of this general type have been used in the past. These machines consist mainly of an impactor plate which is adapted to contact the material to be impacted or compressed and means associated therewith for causing the plate to vibrate. The vibrating means comprises eccentric weights which, when driven, cause a vertical vibration of the impactor plate. These weights are carried by the impactor plate and are driven by means of an engine which is also supported by the impactor plate. These prior art machines have been based on the principle that the center of gravityof the elements carried bythe impactor plate is disposed ahead of a vertical line perpendicular tothe impactor surface of the plate so that when the machine issupported by said impactor surface and the plate vibrates,-the entire machine moves forwardly in a series of hops. or jumps. A handle is associated with each machine of this general type so that an operator can .aidin guiding it, and wheels are also provided which can be moved into contact with a surface by properly tilting the entire machine by means of a handle so that the machine can be transported readily to a different location.

The present invention provides for a greatly simplified machine of the general type indicated above in which thetamping or vibrating action is accomplished much more effectively and efl'iciently than in prior art machines by a very simple driving means and in which the driving means is of suchta nature thatlexact timing between the action of the engine and the action-of theeccentric weights isobtained so that thehighest eificiency possible-in the vibrating action results. The present invention also provides for concentrating-the impacting effect of the weights during their rotation not only by the timing arrangement but also;by the nature and, disposition of the weights. This invention further provides for a replaceable impactor plate or blade to'permit replacement afterwear or to permit replacement with blades of other'forms. It further provides a machine of such a structure that it can be manufactured bysimple production methods.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated an example of my invention but it is to be understood that the-machine may take other forms without departing from the basic principles of my invention. In these drawings: I

Figure l is a perspective view of a machine-made according to my invention. 1

Figure 2 is a front elevational. away, of the machine. 1 l

Figure 3 .is a side elevational view of the machine of Figures 1' and 2, illustrating its action. Figureq4 is. a detail in sideelevation partly away, of the driving mechanism of the machine.

view, partly broken b b n ,1 the impacting force will be concentrated during a short 2,894,435 Patented July 14, 1959 Figure 5 is a detail in side elevation of the mounting for the handle of the machine.

' Figure 6 is a face view of one of the eccentric weights used on the machine.

With reference to the drawings and especially to Figures l to 3, my machine is illustrated as consisting mainly of a weight housing 10, an engine 11 preferably of the gasoline type supported on the housing, a gas tank 12 associated with the engine and supported by the housing, transporting wheels 13 attached to the housing, and a handle 14 attached to the housing which can be used by the operator for aiding in guiding the machine and for tilting the machine to cause the transporting wheels 13 to function.

The housing 10 is of tubular form to simplify its production and to provide a simple arrangement for mounting the bearings 15 (Figure 2) for the weight shaft16, This tubular housing 10 may be formed merely by cutting suitable lengths from a steel pipe. The bearings 15 are self-aligning bearings and are mounted in rings or collars 17 which are merely welded within the tubular housing 10 adjacent the ends thereof. The bearings 15 will support the shaft 16 at the axis of the tubular housing 10.

The shaft 16 is provided wth one eccentric weight 18 intermediate its ends and which will be disposed intermediate the bearings 15. This radially extended weight 18 may be welded to the shaft. The shaft is further provided with two other radially extending weights 19 of identical form. Each of these weights is of the type shown in Figure 6 and is keyed to an end of the shaft 16 axially outside the adjacent bearing 15. All of the weights are .of narrow form transversely of the axis of the shaft 16 and extend angularly in width through an angle of about 36 to 40 as indicated by the angle A in Figure 6. As pointed out above, this figure shows a weight 19 but the weight 18 is of the same angular extent transversely. By providing narrow weights of this character, the impacting effect is concentrated, it being understood that all the weights are in angular alignment.

The left-hand end of the tubular housing 10. (Figure 2) is closed by a removable cover plate 20. The opposite end of the shaft 16 has a toothed driven pulley 21 keyed thereon. This pulley receives a toothed driving and timing belt 22. The endless belt 22 is of the type made of rubber to reduce noise but having cables embedded therein and extending longitudinally thereof to prevent stretching. This belt 22 extends upwardly into a guard member 23 provided above the end of the housing 10 and welded thereto and which is beneath the gas tank 12 that it supports. The outer side of the guard 23 .and the right-hand end of the housing 10 are closed by a removable plate 24.

Within the guard 23 is a toothed driving pulley 25. This pulley 25 is keyed on the end of the crankshaft26 of the engine 11 which projects into the guard 23., This drive arrangement is illustrated in detail in Figure4. and serves not only as a driving means but also as an accurate timing means to always keep the crankshaft 26 and the weight shaft 16 in a predetermined angular relationship. 'The opposite end of the crankshaft 26 is provided with a pulley 27 keyed thereon for receiving a starting rope. The crankshaft 26 is connected in the usual manner to the piston rod 28 of the piston 29 of the engine 11.

As shown in :Figures 2 and 3, when the piston 29 is at the lower extent of its stroke, the weights 18 and 19 are at the lowermost points they reach in their rotation. The result is that the downward thrust of both the piston and the weights will be exerted simultaneously. Furthermore, because the weights are of slight angular extent,

interval while the weights are in their lowermost positions. The direct drive will maintain the desired relationship between the piston 29 and the weights 18 and 19.

This concentrated impacting force is applied to the impactor blade 30 (Figure 3) which is carried at the lower side of the tubular housing 10. The blade 30 is removably attached to the lower side of the housing and extends the full length thereof. For attaching the blade 30, the

housing 10 is provided with a thrust-receiving bar 31 which is welded to its outer surface at its rear lower quadrant and which extends the full length of the housing. The blade 30 is provided with an upstanding flange 32 which extends the full length thereof, and which is adapted to be bolted by removable bolts 33 to the bar 31. The blade 30 includes the fiat heel section 34, which serves as the impactor surface, and the forward upwardly extending angular section 35, which serves as a pre-compacting surface. The angular relationship of the section 35 with the section 34 is important to provide the desired pre-compaction without rearward tipping of the machine and I have found that this angle, indicated at B in Figures 3 and 4, should be from to Also, it will be noted from Figure 3 that the angle of the section 35 is such that it is tangent to the housing 10 and, therefore, its upper and rear surface will engage the housing 10 and will be braced thereby. It will be apparent that the blade 30 can be readily removed and be replaced with blades of difierent length or widths or of other different characteristics. In making such a change, it is merely necessary to remove and replace the bolts 33.

The engine 11 (Figures 1 and 3) is bolted by means of bolts 36 to bars 37 and 38 extending longitudinally of the housing 10 at its upper side and welded to the outer surface thereof. The bar 37 carries a tube section 39 which extends beyond the ends thereof and serves as handle grips for lifting the machine.

The wheels 13 (-Figure l) are supported on axles that are carried by rearwardly extending brackets 40 which are welded to the rear upper quadrant of the housing 10. Supported by these brackets 40 is a mounting for an upstanding cylindrical handle shock mount unit 41 (Figures 3 and 5) of a suitable type. The handle 14 is attached to this unit by means of a split clamping collar 42 which is welded to the lower end of the handle and which clamps around the unit 41.

It will be noted that the housing 10 not only serves as a housing for the. weight shaft 16 and the weights 18 and 19 but also serves as supporting means for attachment of the impactor blade 30, the engine 11 and associated parts, and the handle 14. The engine 11 is preferably a single cylinder gasoline operated type as indicated.

The impactor surface 34 of plate 30 is disposed relative to the housing 10 in such a manner that when it rests on a horizontal surface, indicated by the letter S in Figure 3, the entire machine is tilted forwardly slightly. However, the machine is so balanced that when the impactor surface 34 rests on a horizontal surface the machine will not tip over forwardly. The wheels 13 are shown as being two in number but other numbers may be used. When the impactor surface 34 is resting on the supporting surface S, as shown in Figure 3, and the machine is tilted forwardly slightly, the wheels 13 are spaced above the supporting surface. However, for transportation, the machine may be tilted rearwardly until the wheels 13 engage the supporting surface S and this can be accomplished by means of the upwardly and rearwardly extending handle 14. These wheels 13 are of such width that they will not disfigure material already impacted when they come into contact with the surface of such material. The shock mount 41 cushions the handle 14 and, consequently, vibrations from the machine will be dampened before they reach the operator who may be using the handle 14 to manipulate the machine and especially to aid in guiding it As mentioned previously, and as indicated in Figure 3, the impactor blade is so mounted on the housing 10 that when the impactor surface 34 thereof rests on a surface such as the surface S, the engine 11 and associated parts supported by the housing 10 are tilted slightly forwardly. This is indicated by a comparison of the vertical line V shown in Figure 3, which is perpendicular to the flat impactor surface 34. The line C indicates the center line of the cylinder in which the piston 29 is disposed or, in other words, the axis of reciprocation of this piston. It will be noted that this line C is tilted forwardly slightly relative to the line V. Thus, the piston 29 will reciprocate on an axis which is tilted forwardly slightly relative to the impactor surface 34 upon which the machine rests. However, the machine is so balanced on the impactor surface that its center of gravity is along a line perpendicular to and passing through the flat surface 34 of the impactor blade 30. Thus, as indicated in Figure 3, the center of gravity will be located between the lines G and H which are perpendicular to the fiat surface 34 of the impactor blade at the front and rear extremities thereof, respectively. Therefore, the machine will not tip over forwardly when the impactor surface 34 is resting on a level surface, as shown in Figure 3. Although in Figure 3, material is shown under the angled section 35, the machine would not tip forwardly even if this material was not present. Because of this arrangement where the piston 29 reciprocates along an axis which is tilted forwardly and which in tersects the axes of the crankshaft 26 and the weightshaft 16, when the eccentric weights 18 and 19 are driven by the engine 11, the impactor surface 34 will not only be vibrated but the machine will jump or hop forwardly in small increments. The impacting effect on the surface 34 will be concentrated during a short interval, because theweights 18 and 19 are relatively narrow transversely of the axis of rotation, and the impacting thrust will be the combined thrusts exerted by such weights plus that exerted by the downward movement of the piston 29. The proper relationship will always be maintained between. the piston and the weights since the belt drive is a timing drive free of clutches, etc., which would distrub the original relationship of the piston and the weights. The angled section 35 of the. impactor blade 30 will serve to work on the material ahead of the surface 34 and exert a gradual pre-impaction force thereon to be followed by final impaction by the surface 34.

-It will be apparent that with the machine described, the tamping or vibrating action. is accomplished effectively and efliciently with very simple means, especially with regard to the driving means. The driving means is of such a nature that exact timing between the action of the engine and the action of the eccentric weights is obtained so that the highest efiiciency possible in the vibrating action results, this action being further enhanced by the use of eccentric weights of relatively limited angular extent. The housing for the weights is a simple tubular structure to which all of the various units of the machine can be rigidly attached by simple means. Therefore, this machine readily lends itself to economical production methods. The impactor blade is also supported by the tubular housing and can be removed and replaced with ease. The impactor blade is so formed that it not only has the impactor surface but also a pre-impacting surface. During the impacting operation the transporting wheels are disposed above the impacted surface but the machine can be supported on the wheels merely by pulling back on the handle so that the machine can be moved readily to a different location.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is.

1. An impactor machine having an impactor blade for engaging the surface to be impacted and comprising a tubular weight housing extending transversely of the machine, transporting wheels carriedby the housing, a manipulating and guiding handle ttac ed to thehousing,

a weight shaft rotatably mounted within the housing substantially at the axis of the housing by bearings concentrically mounted therein and having an eccentric weight carried thereby, means for driving the weight shaft, said means comprising a piston-type engine having a cylinder attached to the housing and a reciprocable piston in said cylinder, said engine including a crankshaft spaced laterally from said weight shaft and said driving means comprising a driving connection between the two shafts, means for removably attaching said impactor blade to said tubular housing, said blade having a rear flat impactor heel portion and a pre-impacting angled portion extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, said means for attaching the blade to said housing including a thrust bar connected to said housing and to said blade and extending parallel to the housing axis longitudinally between said housing and said flat impactor heel portion for supporting said blade with its angled portion in tangential relationship to said tubular housing so that the upper surface of the angled portion engages said housing for support against the thrust created on said angled portion during pre-impacting by material engaging its lower surface.

2. An impactor machine having an impactor blade for engaging the surface to be impacted and comprising a tubular weight housing extending transversely of the machine, a weight shaft rotatably mounted within the housing substantially at the axis of the housing and having an eccentric weight carried thereby, means for driving the weight shaft, said means comprising an engine attached to the housing and having a driving connection to the weight shaft, means for attaching said impactor blade to said tubular housing, said blade having a rear fiat impactor heel portion and a pre-impacting angled portion extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, said means for attaching the blade to said housing being connected to said housing and to said blade for supporting said blade with its angled portion in tangential relationship to said tubular housing so that the upper surface of the angled portion engages said housing for support against the thrust created on said angled portion during pre-impacting by material engaging its lower surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,052 Stubbs Jan. 18, 1927 2,644,379 Lowe July 7, 1953 2,737,094 Jackson Mar. 6, 1956 2,856,828 Brown et al Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 357,989 Great Britain Sept 30, 1931 

